Markey, Eshoo, 36 Senate and House Democrats to FCC: Now is the Time to Act on Net Neutrality and Title II

Washington (December 18, 2014) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.), along with 36 Senate and House Democrats, today called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to use its authority immediately to prevent broadband providers from engaging in discriminatory practices and enshrine net neutrality by reclassifying broadband Internet access under Title II of the Communications Act. The lawmakers point out in the letter that it’s been nearly a year since the FCC’s net neutrality rules were invalidated by the D.C. Circuit Court and urge the Commission to act now to finalize new rules.

“We believe the way to achieve a free and open Internet is to reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act, with appropriate forbearance.  As you know, President Obama recently joined us in urging this action,” write the lawmakers in the letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.

“Everyone has spoken; now is the time for action.  We urge you to act without delay to finalize rules that keep the Internet free and open for business.”

In addition to Senator Markey and Congresswoman Eshoo, the letter is signed by Senators Al Franken, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Baldwin, Cory Booker, Carl Levin, Bernie Sanders, Barbara Boxer, Ben Cardin, Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Henry Waxman, John Conyers,  Raúl Grijalva, Keith Ellison, Zoe Lofgren, Michael Doyle, Barbara Lee, John Lewis, Michael Capuano, Chellie Pingree, Betty McCollum, Suzanne Bonamici, Tim Ryan, Mark Takano, Mike Honda, Earl Blumenauer, Jared Polis, Jared Huffman, Jim McGovern, Jan Schakowsky, Louise Slaughter, Niki Tsongas, Sam Farr, Peter DeFazio, and Eric Swalwell.

In July, Senator Markey and 12 Senate Democrats called on the FCC to protect the openness and freedom of the Internet by reclassifying broadband Internet access as a service under Title II of the Telecommunications Act.  In October, Congresswoman Eshoo called on the FCC to adopt a robust, enforceable set of open Internet rules using a ‘light-touch’ Title II approach.

Text of the letter can be found below.

 

December 18, 2014

The Honorable Tom Wheeler

Chairman

Federal Communications Commission

445 12th St. SW

Washington, DC 20554

Dear Chairman Wheeler:

The open Internet serves as the backbone of our economy and a critical artery for free speech.  We must act now to protect the world’s most open platform for commerce and communications.

Nearly a year has passed since the D.C. Circuit Court invalidated the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) previous net neutrality rules and found that the agency erred by constructing those rules on faulty legal grounds.  Since then, we have heard from millions of constituents, companies and entrepreneurs about the need for the Commission to use its authority to prevent broadband providers from engaging in discriminatory practices.  More than four million Americans have written to the FCC and have made their voices clear: no Internet fast and slow lanes.

Many of us have previously written to you and urged the Commission to put the strongest possible rules on the books in order to ensure the health and vitality of the Internet for future generations.  We called on the FCC to prohibit paid prioritization that would harm our economic growth by leaving start-ups and small businesses to suffer in Internet slow lanes.

We believe the way to achieve a free and open Internet is to reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act, with appropriate forbearance.  As you know, President Obama recently joined us in urging this action.

Everyone has spoken; now is the time for action.  We urge you to act without delay to finalize rules that keep the Internet free and open for business.

Thank you for your continued consideration and your work on this issue.

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